HYDERABAD, May 23: Noted water technologist Dr Ahsan Siddiqui has urged the government that since Manchhar lake receives a huge quantum of highly poisonous water from upcountry, 25,000 cusec of water should be given to Sindh for lake’s rehabilitation by Indus River System Authority (IRSA).

Advocating a strong case for the lake here at a press conference in the local press club on Wednesday, Dr Siddiqui said the lake had released 320,100 cusec of poisonous water in River Indus between Sept 29, 2012, to May 21, 2013. “So I strongly demand 25,000 cusec of water additionally for Sindh so that it can be used for rehabilitating the lake which should be emptied before upcoming monsoon season. Otherwise, it will attain alarming proportion during rains,” he said.

Dr Siddiqui said he had been analysing water quality of the lake before its release into River Indus under a high court order.

He said river water was consumed by people of Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Karachi, Thatta and population living downstream Kotri barrage and proper dilution formula was applied before releasing lake’s water into Indus.

That’s why, he added, water did not cause deaths due to gastroenteritis. “We release water on the basis of dilution formula. We keep in mind the availability of water in the River Indus at the point where lake’s water is to be released to lessen pressure on the lake’s embankment,” he said.

He said river water quality was being maintained for human consumption as per WHO’s guidelines. “But now we fear it will be difficult to maintain river water quality because of lack of adequate flows of water in Indus,” he said.

He said that under Sindh’s quota of water, 25,000 cusec should be released for the lake so that people whose livelihood was dependent on the lake could be protected.

He said that currently level of Manchhar lake was 110.20RL (reduced level) and more river flows were needed to release its poisonous water into Indus to enable Manchhar bear the burden of rainfall in monsoon season. “Around 25 million people are dependent on Manchhar lake, therefore, this 25,000 cusec is immediately needed for dilution of water,” he said.

He said lake’s rehabilitation could only be done once RBOD-II project was completed which had to take effluent to sea.

The project had been badly delayed. He said 800 cusec of water was to be released ideally from the lake into Indus, but at least 500 cusec should be released provided that 25,000 cusec of water was made available downstream Sukkur. “Currently we are releasing only 65 cusec from the lake,” he added.

He said that if adequate flows were not ensured downstream Sukkur barrage, the lake’s level would start increasing and it would attain alarming proportions.

He also said that he needed to reduce level of lake at 109RL before monsoon rains.—Staff Correspondent